Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 593,891	$ 588,177	$ 1,202,100	$ 1,139,362
Operating expenses	428,128	411,791	861,620	796,952
Depreciation and amortization	31,691	32,016	63,614	67,954
General and administrative expenses	41,692	49,296	91,826	97,856
Operating income	92,380	95,074	185,040	176,600
Interest income	1,297	5,562	2,465	11,190
Interest expense	(55,046)	(33,225)	(109,304)	(64,846)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,618)		(1,754)
Gain on asset divestitures	2,175	3,680	2,175	3,053
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	39,188	71,091	78,622	125,997
Provision for income taxes	11,153	18,898	23,515	36,860
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $334, $163, $514 and $275, respectively	1,490	1,480	2,412	2,715
Net income	29,525	53,673	57,519	91,852
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	46	54	55	94
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 29,571	$ 53,727	$ 57,574	$ 91,946
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	122,045	121,119	121,740	120,918
Diluted	123,278	121,881	123,496	121,650
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic	$ 0.20	$ 0.37	$ 0.39	$ 0.63
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted	$ 0.20	$ 0.37	$ 0.39	$ 0.63